Author: James Wernicke

Greetings East Park Pool Members and Friends,

Some concerns were raised by members recently regarding open swim access, group use of the pool, guest passes, communication, and facility cleanliness.

We apologize for the frustration some members experienced during open swim while a local swim group was using the pool. They reported that approximately two thirds of the main pool was roped off and that lifeguards told members they could not use that area because it had been reserved by the group. The board should have communicated better to staff that it was shared use.

The only time this season that a portion of the pool was intentionally closed to general member use was during lifeguard training at the beginning of the season. That training occurred because Piñon Pool was closed for repairs, and it helped provide trained lifeguards for pools throughout the community. That was different from the recent group-use issue, where the intent was shared use during open swim, not excluding members from a large portion of the pool.

We also want to clarify the difference between group use and exclusive use. East Park Pool now offers after-hours private rentals for members who want exclusive use of the pool. Those rentals occur outside normal open swim hours and are handled separately from member open swim. During open swim, group use is shared use unless the board has specifically approved a limited-use area or closure and communicated it to members in advance.

Going forward, staff will receive clearer direction so members are not told that large areas of the pool are unavailable unless that restriction has actually been approved. The board will review whether group use conflict with peak open swim times and whether they should be limited, moved, or structured differently. We will improve front desk communication, calendar information, and signage so members and guests know what to expect before paying for entry.

We also want to address guest passes. This year, free guest passes were removed as a membership perk because the pool is facing significant financial and operational pressures, and guest fees are one of the ways we help cover costs. However, we did not communicate that change clearly enough before the season began. We should have done better, and we apologize for the lack of notice.

If a guest fee was charged during a time when pool access was materially different from what was communicated at check-in, please contact the board so we can review the situation.

Separately, a member reported a sanitation concern in the women’s bathroom. Staff should know how to respond promptly to this kind of report, even when a manager is not present. We are addressing this with staff, reviewing cleaning and escalation procedures, and will take appropriate steps to inspect, clean, and monitor the facility.

We have also been asked about board transparency, meeting minutes, and board member benefits. Board members are unpaid volunteers. The bylaws do not state that board members are entitled to a free family membership. The board will review what membership benefits have been offered in the past, under what circumstances, and how any such practice should be documented or communicated going forward. Meeting minutes will be published consistent with our bylaws. We will also review our written policies on group reservations, guest passes, open swim access, and facility operations to set accurate expectations.

East Park Pool exists to serve its members and benefit the community. The board also has a responsibility to keep the pool financially and operationally viable so it can continue opening in future seasons. Those responsibilities can create difficult tradeoffs, but members deserve clear communication, fair access, clean facilities, and timely responses when problems are reported.

Thank you to the members who raised these concerns directly. We are taking them seriously and will make changes to address them.

East Park Pool Board